Three judges in the UK Court of Appeal are being asked to overturn the High Court decision on funding.

They heard that Sandiford needs about £8,000 to fight on.

The sum of £2,000 has already been found, but around £6,000 is still needed from the Government as money from private sources following publicity was "fully exhausted", said lawyers for Sandiford, who is not entitled to legal aid in Indonesia.

Aidan O'Neill, a Scottish QC, argued on Sandiford's behalf that it was reasonable to expect the Foreign Office to provide funding and the case was of "overwhelming importance" because it involved the death penalty.

He submitted: "It also raises issues of significant public interest, concerning the extent to which fundamental rights protection can be claimed against the UK Government by UK nationals when abroad, and specifically in non-European countries."

Mr O'Neill said the Government claim to have "a long-standing policy" not to provide funding was not true and it had in the past provided financial assistance, in exceptional circumstances, to prepare legal proceedings.

The Master of the Rolls, Lord Dyson, sitting with Lord Justice Elias and Lord Justice Patten, are expected to take at least a day to hear the case.

Mr O'Neill said an urgent decision was needed because an appeal to the Indonesian Supreme Court had to be notified to that court by April 25, Thursday this week.

Sandiford received the death sentence, despite prosecutors asking only for a 15-year jail term, after being accused of damaging the image of Bali.

The British Government said it was disappointed when she lost her bid to block the sentence.

Balinese police said Sandiford was at the centre of a drugs-importing ring involving three other Britons, but she claimed she was forced to transport the drugs to protect her children whose safety was at stake.